AIR POWER AND A STRONG U.S.-ISRAEL ALLIANCE IS DEFEATING IRAN’S REGIME FORCES

As Israelis have been celebrating Purim, the current war with the Iranian regime is reminding many citizens of the history of the Jewish People from the time of Esther to present day.

From the beginning of this conflict, when Israel and U.S. forces launched a surprise pre-emptive strike against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and 40 of his prominent government and military leaders, these allied forces have had an advantage. They spent months meticulously planning military operations, currently showing a display of united strength, which both nations hope will change the course of history in the Middle East.

Israeli Brigadier General (res.) Amir Avivi, Chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), sees how the mentality of the Iranian regime connects to the Purim holiday being celebrated in Israel and worldwide.  “One of the most amazing moments in the story of Purim is when Haman comes home and brags to his family. He says, ‘Look at how important I am, at the right hand of the king, and I have money and I have power. I have everything.’ Then he says that none of this matters if Mordechai doesn’t bow.”

Avivi explains what this means today. “The only thing Haman cared about was to humiliate the Jews. Or, in the context of this regime, to destroy the Jewish State. It’s an obsession. They are willing to give up everything. They are willing to die. They are willing to do anything to achieve their mission.”

Since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, the Israeli Air Force, in coordination with the U.S. Air Force, has destroyed 86% of Iran’s ballistic missiles. This unique alliance is only a few days away from achieving full control of Iranian skies. Avivi explains that, until now, the U.S. shot precise munitions from outside of Iran, hitting Iranian targets. “But, we are reaching the point where Israel and the U.S. will completely control the Iranian skies from the inside.”  This means, complete air superiority over Iran.

Avivi adds that this will make it easier for these allied forces to be able to destroy every capability of Iran’s regime, including its infrastructure.

While Israelis throughout the country are still running to bomb shelters, Avivi spoke with confidence that this U.S.-Israel synchronization is resulting in the degrading of the Iranian regime’s capabilities, “very systematically and very fast.”  This includes helping Arab Gulf States in the region overcome the regime’s ballistic and drone attacks on them.

The U.S. is bringing additional forces to the region, including more bombers, which have already been destroying ballistic missile and nuclear sites, as well as Iranian centers of command and control. Israel is also attacking Iran’s Basij para-military force and internal security units, along with the regime’s police forces and its revolutionary guards (IRGC). The powerful U.S.-Israel alliance is continuing to degrade what is left of the Iranian regime’s air defenses, and its air force and navy. Everything is being dismantled systematically, while simultaneously weakening the regime’s centers of government.

At sea, the U.S. just sunk 17 ships of the Iranian navy and a remaining submarine. In the air, an Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter jet, manned by “Adir,” shot down an Iranian Yak-130. It marks the first time a pilot has shot down an Iranian fighter jet over Tehran.

“We are days from really degrading, dramatically, the regime’s capabilities to shoot – whether it is drones or ballistic missiles. There will be a moment when they will be powerless, not able to shoot anything,” Avivi declares. He sees a scenario where Israel and America will so dominate the skies over Iran, the regime will have to surrender.

With the dismantling of Iran’s defense forces, the weakened regime has been counting on Hezbollah forces in Lebanon to synchronize attacks against the Israeli home front. In response, the IDF is advancing its targets on Hezbollah forces, first warning Lebanese citizens in the south to move north of the Litani River.

Avivi states, “The IDF has a very serious plan to deal with Hezbollah, and we are hoping the U.S. will join the fight.”

While Israeli and Arab Gulf citizens in the region are still enduring the continued bombardment of Iran’s ballistic missiles, Avivi says the U.S.-Israel alliance is getting stronger, with more capabilities to bring down the regime and get the job done quickly.

Seeing the draped coffins of several U.S. servicemen who died in battle since this war began, Americans are nervous about a regional conflict erupting far from their shores. The Trump Administration has been messaging its fellow Americans that Iran’s military capabilities would have eventually harmed U.S. citizens in the Middle East, and at home.

Yet, unlike the IDF that has massive support from its citizens for its military operations to stop an existential threat to Israel’s existence, only a reported 1 in 4 Americans have been supportive of the war. In U.S. President Trump’s decision to go the military route once diplomatic talks broke down, he did not first seek congressional approval. Now, pressures from the U.S. Congress are on the Trump Administration to end the war.

Citizens in the Middle East want a “short war,” too. Avivi understands. However, he claims the goal is that the mission is achieved, and he says that mission is clear:  Unconditional surrender of the Iranian regime; of Hezbollah; of Hamas; and even of the Houthi’s. Avivi’s assessment is, “You don’t stop until you win. It doesn’t make sense to stop before you win. We want to win!”

The U.S. may pull out of the war in several weeks, satisfied that it achieved its goals, but those goals are not necessarily the same as Israel’s. Recently, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reflected on what is in the best interests of his country.  He said the objective is clear, to remove existential threats from Iran for the long term. “This cannot happen while this regime is in power, because they haven’t changed their goals. So, we will have to do it again within one year or within two years, as we did last June (2025). There must be a change there.”

Sa’ar admits that Israel has taken into account that its goals might not be achieved during this current military campaign. However, his hope is that this campaign should create the conditions for the Iranian people to replace the Iranian regime.  “We will create the conditions by weakening this regime,” he explains.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to protect Israel’s citizens. In biblical times, Esther and Mordechai could not change Haman’s decree to order the destruction of the Jewish People, as it was already sealed with the king’s signet ring. Yet, they were able to write and have the king’s seal on a new decree, allowing the Jewish People to defend themselves.

Today, in the face of existential threats from the Iranian regime, the Israeli government, along with Israel’s Defense Forces, are serving their citizens by continuing to defend and protect the Jewish State.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)